Sicarius tropicus ( Mello-Leitão, 1936 ), Mello-Leitao, 1936

Magalhães, Ivan L. F., Brescovit, Antonio D. & Santos, Adalberto J., 2013, The six-eyed sand spiders of the genus Sicarius (Araneae: Haplogynae: Sicariidae) from the Brazilian Caatinga, Zootaxa 3599 (2), pp. 101-135 : 108-115

Sicarius tropicus ( Mello-Leitão, 1936)

Figs 16 ; 28; 32–34; 47–63; 124–125; 134–135; 142–143; 150–153; 166

Thomisoides tropicus Mello-Leitão, 1936: 133 , fig. 1. Holotype female from Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil, T. Leitão coll., deposited in MNRJ 41852, destroyed. Neotype here designated: female from Campina Grande, Paraíba (7°17’15.4’’S 35°52’41.6’’W, 466m), 28/V/2012, I.L.F. Magalhães & J.L. Chavari coll., deposited in MNRJ 6521.

Sicarius tropicus: Bonnet 1959: 4569 ; Lins-Duarte, 1973: 310, Figs 1–7 .

Remarks. The holotype of S. tropicus was borrowed by us and, unfortunately, destroyed in the Instituto Butantan fire in May 2010 before we had the chance to dissect and illustrate it.

Diagnosis. Males of S. tropicus differs from other species by having a small base of the palpal bulb, with approximately one third of the size of cymbium; and an embolus almost parallel to the rest of the bulb and slightly curved distally ( Figs 48–51 , 125 ). Females differ from other species by the spermathecae with several branches (usually 15 to 18), which are short and only slightly convoluted; by all branches having approximately the same size; and by the orientation of the branches, which are projected away from the main body axis, rather than parallel to it ( Figs 52–61 , 134–135 , 142–143 ). Males and females of this species also have the longest second femora in relation to carapace length (mean±SD of femur II/carapace length: males 1.64±0.07, females 1.25±0.05; see Variation) (Fig. 47). Subadult females have several (approximately 14) incipient branches in the spermathecae that have approximately the same length ( Figs 62–63 ).

Description. Male (IBSP 40985, Cabaceiras, Paraíba). Coloration and general appearance as described for the genus. Total length 14.9. Carapace: length 7.17, anterior width 2.73, thoracic region width 7.42. Clypeus height 1.12. Eyes diameters and interdistances: ALE 0.36, PLE 0.31, PME 0.31, ALE–PLE 0.25, PME–ALE 0.61. Sternum: length 3.02, width 3.51. Leg I: femur 9.88, patella 3.45, tibia 10.5, metatarsus 7.92, tarsus 3.59. II: femur 11.63, tibia 12.13. III: femur 10.5, tibia 9.3. IV: femur 9.8, patella 3.22, tibia 8.8, metatarsus 7.08, tarsus 3. Opisthosoma: length 7.42, width 5.75. Five picks in the palpal femur. Palp as in Figs 48–51 , 125 .

Female (MNRJ 6521, neotype). Coloration and general appearance as described for the genus. Total length 13.35. Carapace: length 6.4, anterior width 2.49, thoracic region width 6.42. Clypeus height 0.97. Eyes diameters and interdistances: ALE 0.28, PLE 0.28, PME 0.25, ALE–PLE 0.23, PME–ALE 0.66. Sternum: length 2.31, width 3.15. Leg I: femur 7.42, patella 2.58, tibia 7.75, metatarsus 5.58, tarsus 2.75. II: femur 8.08, tibia 7.92. III: femur 7.58, tibia 6.5.IV: femur 7.42, patella 2.37, tibia 6, metatarsus 5.07, tarsus 2.49. Opisthosoma: length 6.27, width 6.34. Five picks in the palpal femur. Spermathecae as in Figs 52–61 , 134–135 , 142–143 .

FIGURE 47. Relationship between carapace length and second femur length in three Sicarius species. Differences between species are more accentuated in males (left) than females (right). Sicarius tropicus has the largest femur II/carapace ratio in both sexes, while S. diadorim n. sp. has the smallest (ANCOVA: males: F(2,82)=63.41, p<0.001; females: F(2,73)=41.85, p<0.001).

Variation. Carapace length: males 4.9–7.2 (n=35), females 4.4–7.4 (n=36). Femur II: males 8.6–12 (n=35), females 5.6–9.25 (n=36). Picks in the palpal femur: 5–6. Spermathecae branches: 15–18. Genitalic morphology is variable in both sexes ( Figs 48–61 ).

Distribution. Northeastern Brazil, in the states of Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco and Sergipe ( Fig. 166 ).

Natural history. Specimens have been collected under rocks in pastures, under logs, from abandoned pitfall traps and in caves in Caatinga areas ( Figs 150–153 ). Individuals have been found preying on ants, larvae of myrmeleontid Neuroptera, larvae of Tenebrionidae beetles and Loxosceles spiders. Eggsacs have been found attached to stones, cave walls and fallen logs. One eggsac opened in the field contained 11 eggs, another 67.

Other material examined. Ceará: Jaguaribara, Estação Ecológica do Castanhão (5°37'41.8''S 38°25'26.9''W, 110m), 11/V/2012, I.L.F. Magalhães & A.J. Santos coll., 13 ( IBSP 162715), 1Ƥ ( IBSP 162717), 1Ƥ ( IBSP 162718), 13 ( UFMG 11695), 1Ƥ ( UFMG 11696), 1Ƥ ( UFMG 11697); Quixadá, Fazenda Magé (4°56'48.5''S 39°1'22.8''W, 195m), 6/V/2012, I.L.F. Magalhães & A.J. Santos coll., 13 ( IBSP 162721), 13 ( IBSP 162722), 13 ( IBSP 162723), 13 ( IBSP 162724), 13 ( IBSP 162725), 1Ƥ ( IBSP 162729), 1Ƥ ( IBSP 162730), 1Ƥ ( IBSP 162731), 1Ƥ ( IBSP 162732), 1Ƥ ( IBSP 162733), 1Ƥ ( IBSP 162734), 13 ( UFMG 11698), 13 ( UFMG 11699), 13 ( UFMG 11700), 1Ƥ ( UFMG 11701), 1Ƥ ( UFMG 11702), 1Ƥ ( UFMG 11703), Monumento Natural Monólitos de Quixadá, Pedra Riscada (4°55'45.5''S 38°59'18.7''W, 178m), I.L.F. Magalhães & A.J. Santos coll., 13 ( IBSP 162738), 1Ƥ ( IBSP 162740), 1Ƥ ( IBSP 162741), 1 juvenile ( IBSP 162744), 1 juvenile ( IBSP 162745), 1 juvenile ( IBSP 162746), 13 ( IBSP 162747), 13 ( UFMG 11704), 1Ƥ ( UFMG 11705), 1Ƥ ( UFMG 11706); Tejuçuoca, Toca do Amor [4°1'43''S 39°39'45''W], 16/IX/2008, 13 1Ƥ 2 juveniles ( ISLA 2212), Toca do Sino, 1Ƥ 2 juveniles ( ISLA 2211). Paraíba: Araruna, Parque Estadual Pedra da Boca (6°27'16.5''S 35°40'45.5''W, 228m), 1 – 2/VI/2012, I.L.F. Magalhães & J.L. Chavari coll., 13 ( IBSP 162748), 13 ( IBSP 162749), 13 ( IBSP 162750), 13 ( IBSP 162751), 13 ( IBSP 162752), 13 ( IBSP 162753), 13 ( IBSP 162754), 1Ƥ ( IBSP 162758), 1Ƥ ( IBSP 162759), 1Ƥ ( IBSP 162760), 13 ( UFMG 11707), 13 ( UFMG 11708), 13 ( UFMG 11709), 1Ƥ ( UFMG 11710), 1Ƥ ( UFMG 11711), Pedra da Boca [6°27'16.5''S 35°40'45.5''W, 570m], 3/X/2003, S.C.Dias coll., 23 2Ƥ ( IBSP 41374); Cabaceiras (7°29'20''S 36°17'14''W), 2003, M.T.L.Duarte coll., 13 1Ƥ ( AMNH), 133 4Ƥ 3 juveniles ( IBSP 40985), 43 6 juveniles ( IBSP 43566), 18/IX/2011, J.B.R. Alencar coll., 13 1 juvenile (CHNUFPI 257); Campina Grande (7°17'15.4''S 35°52'41.6''W, 466m), 28/V/2012, I.L.F. Magalhães & J.L. Chavari coll., 13 ( IBSP 162763), 1Ƥ ( IBSP 162765), 1Ƥ ( IBSP 162766), 13 ( UFMG 11712), 1Ƥ ( UFMG 11713); Gurinhém (7°11'42''S 35°24'46''W), 15/III/1999, A.B. Kury & A.P.L. Giupponi coll., 2 juveniles ( MNRJ 6263); São João do Cariri [7°22’S 36°30’W, 458m], II/2004, S.C.Dias coll., 1Ƥ ( IBSP 43424); São José dos Cordeiros, Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural Fazenda Almas (7°28'17.6''S 36°53'52.3''W, 616m), 31/V/2012, I.L.F. Magalhães & J.L. Chavari coll., 13 ( IBSP 162769), 13 ( IBSP 162770), 13 ( IBSP 162771), 13 ( IBSP 162772), 13 ( IBSP 162773), 13 ( IBSP 162774), 13 ( IBSP 162775), 13 ( IBSP 162776), 13 ( IBSP 162777), 13 ( IBSP 162778), 1Ƥ ( IBSP 162784), 1Ƥ ( IBSP 162785), 1Ƥ ( IBSP 162786), 1Ƥ ( IBSP 162787), 1Ƥ ( IBSP 162788), 1Ƥ ( IBSP 162789), 1Ƥ ( IBSP 162790), 13 ( UFMG 11714), 13 ( UFMG 11715), 13 ( UFMG 11716), 13 ( UFMG 11717), 13 ( UFMG 11718), 1Ƥ ( UFMG 11719), 1Ƥ ( UFMG 11720), 1Ƥ ( UFMG 11721); Pernambuco: Brejo da Madre de Deus, Gruta do Caboclo [8°8’S 36°22’W], 2Ƥ ( ISLA 2221), 11/I/2007, 1Ƥ 3 juveniles ( ISLA 2222); Buíque (8°37'23''S 37°9'21''W), Equipe UFPB coll., 13 2Ƥ ( IBSP 28048), Parque Nacional do Catimbau, Igrejinha (8°29'33.9''S 37°15'6.4''W, 938m), 2/IV/2012, I.L.F. Magalhães coll., 1Ƥ ( UFMG 11120), 1Ƥ ( UFMG 11732), Vale do Catimbau [8°29'33.9''S 37°15'6.4''W, 798m], 6/XI/2002, D. Araújo & D.M. Cella coll., 1Ƥ ( IBSP 36912), 1Ƥ ( IBSP 36915), 1Ƥ ( IBSP 36920), Vilarejo Catimbau, 1982, M.C.Santos coll., 13 3Ƥ 1 juvenile ( IBSP 3612); Caruaru, Brejo dos Cavalos [8°16’S 35°58’W], 11 – 18/XII/2009, C. Sampaio et al. coll., 43 4Ƥ ( MNRJ 9040); São Caetano, Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural Pedra do Cachorro (8°14'22.9''S 36°11'13.7''W, 649m), 26/V/2012, I.L.F. Magalhães & J.L. Chavari coll., 13 ( IBSP 162794), 1Ƥ ( IBSP 162795), 1Ƥ ( IBSP 162796), 1Ƥ ( IBSP 162797), 1Ƥ ( UFMG 11722), 1Ƥ ( UFMG 11723). Piauí: Castelo do Piauí, Parque Municipal Pedra do Castelo, Caatinga e grutas (5°12'5.9''S 41°41'14.2''W, 197m), 26/II/2012, I.L.F. Magalhães et al. coll., 13 ( IBSP 162400), 13 ( IBSP 162401), 13 ( IBSP 162402), 13 ( IBSP 162403), 1Ƥ ( IBSP 162404), 1Ƥ ( IBSP 162405), 1Ƥ ( IBSP 162406), 1Ƥ ( IBSP 162407), 13 ( IBSP 162408), 13 ( IBSP 162409), 13 ( IBSP 162410), 13 ( IBSP 162411), 13 ( IBSP 162412), 13 ( IBSP 162413), 13 ( UFMG 11055), 13 ( UFMG 11056), 13 ( UFMG 11057), 13 ( UFMG 11058), 1Ƥ ( UFMG 11059), 1Ƥ ( UFMG 11060). Rio Grande do Norte: Apodí , Gruta do Urubu 6/I/2007, 13 ( ISLA 2208); Baraúna, Caverna da Escada [5°10'8''S 37°43'41''W], 27/I/2010, D.M. Bento coll., 4Ƥ 1 juvenile ( ISLA 2213), 29/ VII/2010, 13 1Ƥ 2 juveniles ( ISLA 2214), Caverna Esquecida [5°2'20''S 37°33'41''W], 12/VI/2010, 13 ( ISLA 2215); Felipe Guerra, Buraco das Abelhas Italianas [5°35'52''S 37°41'10''W], 1/IX/2007, 13 ( ISLA 2219), Caverna da Rumana [5°33'54''S 37°39'7''W], 5/VIII/2010, D.M. Bento coll., 13 ( ISLA 2217), Caverna Trapiá [5°34'2''S 37°37'19''W], 4/VIII/2010, 13 1Ƥ 3 juveniles ( ISLA 2216), Gruta da Carrapateira [5°33'38''S 37°39'50''W], 24/IV/2007, 13 ( ISLA 2220), Gruta da Catedral [5°33'50''S 37°39'57''W], 14/IX/2008, 1Ƥ ( ISLA 2218); Governador Dix-Sept Rosado, Caverna Boniteza [5°30'51''S 37°33'22''W], 20/VII/2010, D.M. Bento coll., 13 1Ƥ ( ISLA 2210), Gruta Boca de Peixe [5°29'4''S 37°33'30''W], 1Ƥ 3 juveniles ( ISLA 2224), Gruta Marimbondo Caboclo [5°29'44''S 37°32'42''W], D.M. Bento coll., 1Ƥ ( ISLA 2223); Lajes, Rio do Sal (5°42'13.3''S 36°14'40.1''W, 187m), 13/V/2012, I.L.F. Magalhães & A.J. Santos coll., 13 ( IBSP 162800), 1Ƥ ( IBSP 162802), 1 juvenile ( IBSP 162804), 13 ( UFMG 11724), 1Ƥ ( UFMG 11725); Martins, Caverna Casa de Pedra [6°4'17''S 37°53'3''W], 5/IX/2007, 1Ƥ ( ISLA 2204), 1Ƥ 3 juveniles ( ISLA 2207); Mossoró, Gruta do Trinta [5°12'44''S 37°15'51''W], 10/VI/2010, D.M. Bento coll., 1Ƥ ( ISLA 2202), 8/XII/2009, 1Ƥ 1 juvenile ( ISLA 2203); Natal, Candelária [5°46’S 35°12’W, 30m], 29/VII/2000, M.G. Sumeida coll., 1Ƥ ( IBSP 37920). Sergipe: Nossa Senhora da Glória (10°13'6''S 37°25'13''W), VIII/1980, S. Lucas coll., 1Ƥ ( IBSP 3150).

Figures

FIGURE 1. Distribution of Sicarius species in the New World. SDTFs = seasonally dry tropical forests. The Caatinga is the large SDTF nucleus in northeastern Brazil. Records outside the Caatinga correspond to specimens examined by us, but not included in this study.

FIGURES 2 – 7. Scanning electron microscopy images of Sicarius cariri n. sp. (female from Alvorada do Gurguéia, Piauí, IBSP 162705, 162706). 2 — Prosoma, dorsal view. Arrows indicate central groups of macrosetae and macrosetae in the lateral border of the carapace. 3 — Prosoma, dorsolateral view. Arrow indicates cheliceral stridulatory file. 4 — Stridulatory file in the chelicerae, lateral view. 5 — Prosoma, ventral view. 6 — Mouth region, ventral view. 7 — Chelicerae macrosetae, ventral view. Abbreviations: Ch = chelicerae, E = eye, Ed = endite, L = labium, SF = stridulatory file, St = sternum. Scale bars: 2000 μm (2, 5), 1000 μm (6), 500 μm (3), 50 μm (4, 7).

FIGURE 166. Distribution of Sicarius species in Brazil.

FIGURES 12 – 17. Scanning electron microscopy images of Sicarius cariri n. sp. (female from Alvorada do Gurguéia, Piauí: 12 – 15, 17; IBSP 162705, 162706) and Sicarius tropicus (Mello-Leitão) (male from São José dos Cordeiros, Paraíba: 16; IBSP 162770). 12 — Chelicerae, retromarginal view. 13 — Right palp, prolateral view. Arrow indicates femoral picks. 14 — Palpal femoral picks, prolateral view. 15 — Proximal palpal femoral pick, prolateral view. 16 — Left palpal femoral picks, prolateral view. 17 — Second right tarsus, tarsal claws, lateral view. Abbreviations: ChL = apex of the cheliceral lamina, PL = promarginal lobe of the chelicerae, VO = venom outlet. Scale bars: 500 μm (12), 200 μm (13), 100 μm (14, 16, 17), 20 μm (15).

FIGURES 48 – 51. Sicarius tropicus (Mello-Leitão) males. 48. Cabaceiras, Paraíba (IBSP 40985), left palp, prolateral. 49. Same, bulb. 50. Araruna, Paraíba (IBSP 41374), left bulb, prolateral. 51. Vale do Catimbau, Buíque, Pernambuco (IBSP 3612), left bulb, prolateral. Scale bars: 100 μm (except 48, 1000 μm).

FIGURES 124 – 131. Scanning electron microscopy images of Sicarius male palps. 124. Sicarius tropicus (Mello-Leitão) from São José dos Cordeiros, Paraíba (IBSP 162770), left palp, prolateral. 125. Same, bulb. 126. Sicarius cariri n. sp. from São Raimundo Nonato, Piauí (UFMG 11040), left palp, prolateral. 127. Same, bulb. 128. Sicarius diadorim n. sp. from Itacarambi, Minas Gerais (UFMG 11602), left palp, prolateral. 129. Same, bulb. 130. Sicarius ornatus n. sp. from Milagres, Bahia (IBSP 161100), left palp, prolateral. 131. Same, bulb. Scale bars: 500 μm (122, 124, 126, 128), 200 μm (129), 100 μm (123, 125, 127).

FIGURES 52 – 63. Sicarius tropicus (Mello-Leitão) female internal genitalia. 52. Neotype from Campina Grande, Paraíba (MNRJ 6521), dorsal. 53. Same, ventral. 54. Natal, Rio Grande do Norte (IBSP 37920), dorsal. 55. Same, ventral. 56. Buíque, Pernambuco (IBSP 28048), dorsal. 57. Same, ventral. 58. Cabaceiras, Paraíba (IBSP 40985), dorsal. 59. Same, ventral. 60. Araruna, Paraíba (IBSP 41374), dorsal. 61. Same, ventral. 62. Subadult female from Gurinhém, Paraíba (MNRJ 6263), dorsal. 63. Subadult female from Lajes, Rio Grande do Norte (IBSP 162804), dorsal. Scale bars: 100 μm.

FIGURES 134 – 141. Sicarius spermathecae. 134. Sicarius tropicus (Mello-Leitão), neotype (MNRJ 6521), ventral. 135. Same, right branches. 136. Sicarius cariri n. sp., paratype (IBSP 162356), ventral. 137. Same, right branches. 138. Sicarius diadorim n. sp., paratype (UFMG 11605), ventral. 139. Same, central branches. 140. Sicarius ornatus n. sp., paratype (CHNUFPI 258), ventral. 141. Same, central branches. Arrows indicate ventral branches of the spermathecae. Scale bars: 100 μm.

FIGURES 142 – 149. Scanning electronic microscopy images of Sicarius spermathecae. 142. Sicarius tropicus (Mello-Leitão) from São José dos Cordeiros, Paraíba (IBSP 162768), dorsal. 143. Same, left branches. 144. Sicarius cariri n. sp., female paratype from São Raimundo Nonato, Piauí (IBSP 162357), ventral. 145. Same, right branches. 146. Sicarius diadorim n. sp. from Itacarambi, Minas Gerais (IBSP 162291), ventral. Arrow indicates a ventral branch of the spermathecae. 147. Same, detail of the base of a spermathecae branch. 148. Sicarius ornatus n. sp. from Ituaçu, Bahia (IBSP 162254), ventral. 149. Same, detail of the base of the left branches. Arrow indicates ventral branches of the spermathecae. Abbreviation: M = dorsal membrane. Scale bars: 200 μm (142, 144, 146, 148), 100 μm (145), 50 μm (143, 149), 10 μm (147).

FIGURES 150 – 153 Habitats where Sicarius tropicus (Mello-Leitão) has been found. 150. Pasture at Campina Grande, Paraíba. 151. Caatinga with rock outcrops in São Caetano, Pernambuco. 152. Caatinga with rock outcrops in Araruna, Paraíba. 153. Small cave at Jaguaribara, Ceará.